Fertility Treatment: The Success Rates of Metformin

Metformin, or its brand name Glucophage, can be utilized to treat fertility problems. The clinical use for metformin is the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Its application is the suppression of glucose production by the liver as well as the enhancement of the effects of existing insulin levels within the body. The female reproductive system requires insulin to work properly, but too much insulin will inhibit its function.

What It Treats

A common cause of infertility is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), where the ovaries have developed cysts making it impossible to conceive. Studies have shown that metformin is effective in this problem and assisting in women becoming pregnant.

Metformin and Clomid

When metformin is used by itself, studies reveal limited success in assisting with infertility problems. When it is taken in conjunction with a drug called Clomid, or clominiphine citrate, the results are much more appealing. The use of metformin and clominiphine citrate may help to avoid more expensive methods of fertility treatment such as injectible follicle stimulating hormones or in vitro fertilization. The use of metformin and clominiphine citrate has the added attraction of being taken in pill form as opposed to the other methods of treating infertiltiy, which are more intrusive.

Success rates

Some results from the use of metformin and clominiphine citrate reveal a success rate as high as 27 percent after six months. More common results based on women under the age of 37 with their partner's sperm count being normal reveal a 10 to 15 percent pregnancy rate while relying on intercourse, and a 15 to 20 percent pregnancy rate while relying on the intrauterine insemination method.